Portishead’s debut studio album, ‘Dummy,’ released in August 1994, garnered critical acclaim and won the prestigious 1995 Mercury Music Prize. Regarded as influential in popularizing the trip hop genre, it reached triple platinum status in the UK by 2019 and sold 3.6 million copies globally by 2008.

Geoff Barrow and Beth Gibbons’ collaboration shaped the album’s unique sound, blending hip-hop techniques with vintage production methods. The album’s distinctive sound was achieved by using a mix of sampled and original music, recorded onto vinyl before manipulation. Notable samples include tracks by Lalo Schifrin, Weather Report, War, Johnnie Ray, and Isaac Hayes. ‘Dummy’ not only propelled Bristol as the hub of trip hop but also featured the iconic album cover, a still from the band’s self-composed soundtrack for ‘To Kill a Dead Man,’ securing their record deal.”

Dummy showcased the influential tracks ‘Numb’, ‘Glory Box,’ and ‘Sour Times.’ ‘Glory Box’ and ‘Sour Times’ propelled the album’s sales, with ‘Glory Box’ peaking at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart and ‘Sour Times’ reaching the same spot after re-release in 1995. These successes drove the album to number two on the UK Albums Chart. ‘Sour Times’ achieved moderate success in the US, reaching number five on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart and number 53 on the Hot 100.

Source: Wikipedia